2017:

• 100% of Sixth Form students receive offers from university

• 44% of offers were unconditional!

• A third of students went to ‘Russell Group’ institutions

Current year (2018):

• 100% students received offers

• 42% have accepted unconditional offers

• 52% have accepted ‘conditional’ offers

Key Dates

• 23rd May – new UCAS cycle opens

• Term 6, students start writing personal statements

• Term 1, references written and applications made

• 15th October – deadline for Oxbridge and

medicine

• 15th January – cycle closes

• Terms 2 – 6 – offers made, choices made

• August 15th – acceptance or clearing

Useful websites

• www.university.which.co.uk

• www.ucas.com

• www.heaponline.co.uk/

• www.slc.co.uk

• Individual institutions (particularly qualification reform statements)

• UCAS ‘track’

Useful publications• The Good University

Guide

(gooduniguide.co.uk,

£3.99 or free e-book)

• Sunday Times Good

University Guide (£14)

• The HEAP guide (£35)

The Process1. Students research and decide on courses and locations

2. Students set up UCAS accounts (they are responsible for user

names and passwords. Think carefully about personal email

addresses)

3. Applications made to 5 institutions (spread! Invisible!)

4. References written, application sent

5. Payment of £24 (by card only)

6. UCAS processes application

7. Offers made / interviews

8. Firm acceptance / insurance / UCAS extra

9. Results and places confirmed

(Finance in place via Student Loans Company)

There has never been

a better time to

apply to university!

2017 cycle UCAS review• The number of offers made has been growing year-on-year

• Just over 1.9 million offers were made in 2017

• Over 99% of 18 year olds received at least one offer, and between

one and two thirds, depending on their predicted grade profiles,

received offers for each of their five choices

• 2017 saw 51,615 unconditional offers made, a 40 per cent increase

on the number in 2016.

• Only 25% of placed applicants met or exceeded their predicted

grades

Full statistics published on ucas.com/corporate. End of cycle report released 15 December 2017.

2017 cycle UCAS review• In 2017, 28.9% of 18 year olds from the South West entered HE,

making this the region with the lowest entry rate (London = 42%)

• In 2017, 241,500 UK 18 year olds were accepted, more than in any

previous year.

• Set within the wider context of a declining population, the

proportion of 18 year olds accessing higher education – one in

every three in England – is now higher than ever before.

2017 cycle UCAS review• Increases in acceptances to: architecture, building and planning;

law; and social studies. Longer term patterns of growth can be seen

in biological sciences, social studies, and computer sciences.

• Decline in combination subjects and European and non-European

language subjects continued this year, with far fewer acceptances

seen in 2017 than 2008.

• For 18 out of the 26 subject groups, more women than men were

accepted. Within certain subject areas significantly different ratios

between men and women exist, the most contrasting of which are

Education, with over 6 women for every man, and Computer

sciences, with over 6 men for every woman accepted to study

UK domiciled 18 year old acceptances by route (logarithmic scale)

Source: ‘UCAS End of Cycle Report 2017’, www.ucas.com

• Majority of applicants are placed at

firm choice.

• Number of applicants placed

through Clearing increases to

highest on record.

UK domiciled 18 year olds, application and entry rates

Higher Education landscape• Qualification reform.

• Alternatives, such as Degree and Higher Apprenticeships.

• Fairness and diversity commitments.

• Brexit?

• Increased information and advice.

We are here

Key Information for UCAS Registration:

• Website: https://www.ucas.com

• Click on ‘Sign In’ (top right hand corner) – choose

‘students’• Select undergraduate and choose 2019 entry

• Choose ‘through school / college’ when asked how you are applying

• Buzzword = colfox003

• A personal ID will then be generated. Write this down or

screenshot the page

Key factors for successful applications

Professional

academic reference

Some preparation

of ‘plan B’

Timely and effective

management via Track.

Associated factors

considered (e.g. student

loans, accommodation)

Thorough and effective research

(95% regret lack of this!)

Considered choices -

weighing aspiration and risk

Submitted by

relevant deadline

A strong, focussed, error-

free personal statement

Contact with

university admissions

offices

Entering qualifications in Apply 2019

• All completed, certificated qualifications should be entered with

relevant date and grade. Even if a U grade or resit(s).

• Qualifications with a future completion or certification date should

be entered, with relevant date and result ‘Pending’.

• Science practical grade will need to be added in references.

Apply key facts

• Application is entirely online.

• Maximum of five choices.

• Some choice restrictions:

• medicine, veterinary science, dentistry (maximum of four)

• Oxford or Cambridge (not both)

• Simple application cost:

• one choice – £13

• two to five choices – £24

• Equal consideration.

• ‘Invisibility’.

Common applicant errors• Fail to check entry requirements or take admissions tests.

• Qualifications missing or entered incorrectly.

• Inappropriate email address or email address not verified.

• Tick some boxes (e.g. relevant, unspent criminal

convictions) in error.

• Fail to tick other boxes (e.g. section complete).

• Disability, special needs, or have been in care.

• Locked out.

• 14 day Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) cool

off.

THE PERSONAL STATEMENT

From a university perspective

‘With many highly qualified students applying to university, the

personal statement is crucial in helping us identify students with

the greatest merit and aptitude for our courses.’

University of Manchester

• Independent study skills.

• Self-awareness.

• Motivation and commitment.

• An understanding of the course.

• Good numeracy and literacy.

• Research skills.

• Essay writing – don’t write lists.

• Enthusiasm – going beyond the norm.

• Time management skills.

• Reflective thinking.

What is being looked for?

Most common opening lines1. From a young age, I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]… [1,779]2. For as long as I can remember, I have… [1,451]3. I am applying for this course because… [1,370]4. I have always been interested in… [927]5. Throughout my life, I have always enjoyed… [310]6. Reflecting on my educational experiences… [257]7. Nursing is a very challenging and demanding [career/course]… [211]8. Academically, I have always been… [168]9. I have always wanted to pursue a career in… [160]10. I have always been passionate about… [160]

Points to remember• Strong opening paragraph.

• Their research into courses will help you.

• 80% academic, 20% extra curricular.

• Be honest.

• Draft, redraft, and proof read.

• There’s no perfect statement.

DecisionsUniversities and colleges will review the:

• personal statement

• reference

• qualifications

• admissions test result

• interview

• portfolio

• audition

You’ll get one of three decisions:

• unconditional offer

• conditional offer

• unsuccessful

Applicant repliesWait for all decisions from all choices, then they can choose one:

• firm – if all conditions are met, where they will be placed

• insurance – usually lower conditions in case firm conditions are not met

Any other offers must be declined.

They don’t have to have an insurance (14 day CMA cooling off period).

Other options Extra (25 Feb – 4 Jul)

Used all five choices and had no offers (or declined all offers/withdrew).

Add Extra choices for consideration one at a time.

Adjustment (up to five days in Aug)

Placed with firm choice and did better than conditional offer.

Clearing (early Jul to Oct)

Apply after 30 June, receive no offers, decline all offers, or not met conditions.

NB – clearing accounts for 1 in every 8 places at university!

Clearing process Eligible

applicant researches vacancies

Contact

providers to

discuss

application

Applicant enters choice

details in Track

Universities and colleges

consider application

If unsuccessful, applicant can

start again

• Places secured via Track.

• A verbal agreement following

initial direct contact must be

made.

• Eligible applicants will have a

ten digit Personal ID number

(PID) and a six digit Clearing

number.

• Should be able to quote both

to the universities they

contact.

Applicant placed on course

Preparing for Confirmation and Clearing • Ensuring personal details are correct.

• Reminding students to keep Track up to date.

• New tile on the website.

• Clearing choice from 15.00 on results day.

• Emails about mismatched and unplaced applicants.

• Ensuring students are informed about their options.

References

• Something Joint Sixth Form does well – the personal touch

• Similar format to personal statement.

• Should form a partnership with the personal statement.

• Particularly important for competitive courses.

• Should be in line with predicted grades.

• Make sure it is written for the right student.

What we include

• Academic performance.

• Suitability for the course.

• Skills and qualities, such as aptitude and enthusiasm.

• Current or past achievements in particular subject areas.

• Relevant extra curricular activities.

• Any commitments.

• Factors that may affect performance.

• Avoid unnecessary repetition.

Predicted gradesQuestion of accuracy:

• Circa 40% over predicted (can lead to offers that cannot be met).

• Circa 10% under predicted (can result in no offer).

Always record in the reference fields provided:

• Do not leave out or try to hide in the body of the text.

• Do not repeat in text (additional comment can be made).

• Try to reflect genuine expectation of academic achievement.

• Ensure they are up to date.

Remember, for reformed English A level science, a prediction for practical

assessments is also required.